Making a car into a convertible, is it possible?

Posted By: jml19621

Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/01/11 10:17 PM

Alright, first I am writing this for my father. He has way too much time on his hands. We have restored several cars over the years. We just finished a 70 Cuda. He came across a 1971 Challenger hardtop. We have lots of parts leftover from a 70 Challenger resto. After the Cuda he swore he was done with cars (he is 70). The family sight a collective sigh of relief; however, the 71 Challenger has come into the picture. It is a 318 colum shift that needs a lot of work. His dream is to make into a convertible. He swears it can be done, me I not too sure. So here is the question, can it be done and what would be involved and how expensive to do it?

Posted By: BigBlockMopar

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/01/11 11:22 PM

I say Do It!
If you have most of the convertible specific parts what could go wrong? It's only metal!

Turning hardtop cars into convertibles is something that a couple of guys in Sweden have done a number of times on late fifties Mopars.

Posted By: rayztoy

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/01/11 11:24 PM

Check this out... http://www.droptopcustoms.com/

Posted By: Andrewh

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 12:20 AM

there was a company doing just that for the cudas and challengers. even made some hard to find convertible parts.
they went out of business a few years back, but were selling complete verts for the 60k range.

Posted By: lahatte

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 12:22 AM

Ken Hopperdietzel is one of the best at doing this. In fact, he recently got a convertible challenger donor car, so he might have some good stuff for you. http://www.ebodyconvertibleconversions.com/

However, be prepared for some expense, because it won't be cheap to do it right.

Posted By: Andrewh

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 12:24 AM

http://web.archive.org/web/2008020320265...t%20Reports.htm

pics are all gone, but you can read a little about what they did.

Posted By: lahatte

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 12:27 AM

Oh, and I'm doing one for myself... http://www.claylahatte.com

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 03:57 PM

Obviously it can be done and you can put a 454 chevy motor into a '68 VW Beetle, too. You have to be willing to do the work. You also have to be smart enough to do it right. Factory convertibles had reinforcements or thicker-gauge metal in places. For example, GM A-bodies had real frames and the convertible frames were boxed while the roof cars' frames weren't.

Your car doesn't have a frame so the bending strength and torsional stiffness have to be added to the body.

The main problem that I see is that for most convertible conversions that get started, the most likely outcome is failure. Most of the failures exist in the form of half-finished cut-up hulks. Every once in a while one gets finished but it is horribly done. Every once in a while somebody does it right, but that is the exception to the rule.

E-bodies are rare and I'd hate to see another one scrapped.

R.

Posted By: Montclaire

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/02/11 04:06 PM

Quote:

there was a company doing just that for the cudas and challengers. even made some hard to find convertible parts.
they went out of business a few years back, but were selling complete verts for the 60k range.

I was going to mention this, didn't know they were out of business. What happened to the dies? Seems to me that a compnay such as AMD would be pretty interested in getting those and cranking the pieces out...

Anyway, you either need a complete conversion kit or you need a parts car to do it right. I would add in frame ties and some serious braces before you make any cuts.

You could also wait and see if Dynacorn will be producing their Challenger shell in a convert, then try to get them to sell you the pieces individually.

Posted By: Grizzly

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 04:47 PM

Your Father's intentions are good ones, but......

Perhaps you should mention to him that one day the car will go into someone else's hands and you will have to upfront and honest about what you did to the car for liability's sake. The worst could happen, and like mentioned already: a true convertible is a different car. Chrysler had Engineers, blueprints, and metal specifications for a very good reason.

I agree with what Dogdays said.

Posted By: Montclaire

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 04:51 PM

To be honest, I would try to talk him into selling off all that he has, and just buying a convert.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 04:51 PM

if you're gonna do it, do it right. a hard top uni-body car uses the roof structure as part of the frame.

remove it and you get a floppy car.

so you'll have to add metal back in somewhere. either frame ties and other stifening members, or replacement 'vert metal and make it like the factory did.

it can be done, but it'll be a lot of metal work, much like doing a custom chopped top on an old 40s rod.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 07:17 PM

Can it be done? Sure. But it's a horrible idea; it will take far more time, effort and expense than just buying a convertible in the first place AND to top it off, you have a worthless car when you're done 'cause NOBODY wants to buy frankenstein's monster and a convertible (even IF it was done 100% correctly) with a hardtop VIN isn't something anybody will want to buy.

Dave

Posted By: chargervert

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 07:25 PM

Who would want to do a thing like that!

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 09:00 PM

Quote:

Who would want to do a thing like that!

No idea!

In fairness though, you at least had an excuse; you couldn't buy one 'cause they didn't make any.

Dave

Posted By: chargervert

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 09:11 PM

Supposedly Metro has a complete E body convertible conversion kit coming out. I hava a 71 340 Cuda with some roof rust issues. I'm considering this kit. I'm sure most people would think I was nuts

to cut the roof off a real 71 Cuda,but I really miss my old Barracuda/Cuda clone convertible I used to have.

Posted By: MoPar Jamie

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/03/11 10:48 PM

I'd love to build my '72 Monaco into a 'vert but C-Body donors are getting hard to find as it would have to be a '69 or '70.

Posted By: 67plymouthman

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/04/11 02:46 AM

Quote:

if you're gonna do it, do it right. a hard top uni-body car uses the roof structure as part of the frame.

remove it and you get a floppy car.

so you'll have to add metal back in somewhere. either frame ties and other stifening members, or replacement 'vert metal and make it like the factory did.

it can be done, but it'll be a lot of metal work, much like doing a custom chopped top on an old 40s rod.

I agree!
My friend made one out of a 73 satellite. It actually looks good. He made frame ties and welded some iron under the package tray (probably overkill). He sculpted the header (above windsheild) out of fiber glass. Its not a true convertible because it doesn't have a top. None the less, it looks cool and he only drives it on sunny days. Go for it if you want a cheap car without a top.

Posted By: MOBodyman

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/04/11 04:02 AM

A friend did this to a '72 e-body. He had a very rusty donor car so having the specific 'vert pieces made the job fairly easy. It's not really that big of a job for a competent bodyman or someone with good welding skills. The '72 build used subframe connectors for reinforcement instead of the metal in the rockers (donor was too rusty). Factory 'verts used an extra piece of metal in the rockers that really doesn't look nearly as heavy as subframe connectors. Of course the factory 'verts used the torque boxes, extra bracing in the rear wheelwell area, etc.
If he has the skills and time, I would say go for it. The car won't be any less safe than many of the hardtop cars that have been cut into a dozen pieces and welded back together during their restoration.
Dallas

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/04/11 04:34 PM

Quote:

The car won't be any less safe than many of the hardtop cars that have been cut into a dozen pieces and welded back together during their restoration.
Dallas

As the owner of a metal fabrication shop, I felt the need to comment on this common misconception: Welding (done right, of course) is stronger than the base material. In addition, these cars were welded together (poorly most of the time) from dozens of pces right from the factory.

The upshot is that as long as the work was done properly, there is no reason a car that has had replacement panels welded in can't be as strong or stronger than a factory job.

Of course if someone doesn't know what they are doing, they can compromise the strength of the unibody but the most dangerous car is actually one that has significant rust.

Dave

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/04/11 04:37 PM

To the OP; can it be done? sure, of course it can. Is it expensive? that is subjective and it depends on how much work your dad can do himself.....farming it out would be HUGELY expensive....doing it yourself should be relatively inexpensive. How much time will it take? Lots....no question.

The biggest caution is to make sure the car is going to stay in the family because after all his hard work the car will be impossible to sell except at a give away type price.

Dave

Posted By: Golden-Arm

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/04/11 04:39 PM

you could change a challenger into a mustang, with a lot of work and money. the big question would be: why? buy a convert, after selling the hardtop. ultimately, it's his ride, but why do whats already been done?

Posted By: MOBodyman

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/05/11 08:45 AM

Quote:

Quote:

The car won't be any less safe than many of the hardtop cars that have been cut into a dozen pieces and welded back together during their restoration.
Dallas

As the owner of a metal fabrication shop, I felt the need to comment on this common misconception: Welding (done right, of course) is stronger than the base material. In addition, these cars were welded together (poorly most of the time) from dozens of pces right from the factory.

The upshot is that as long as the work was done properly, there is no reason a car that has had replacement panels welded in can't be as strong or stronger than a factory job.

Of course if someone doesn't know what they are doing, they can compromise the strength of the unibody but the most dangerous car is actually one that has significant rust.

Dave

That was exactly my point. No problems if done correctly.
Dallas

Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 11/05/11 02:51 PM

The main part of the convertible that needs to be added is what was inside the rocker panels, one very large "C" section piece of steel that is about 1/8" thick! Found that out around 30 years ago when I cut-up my first A-Body vert, broke a few sawzall blades when I got to the rockers.

The guy who had the kits was Jim and he lived in Kouts, Indiana. I think he finally sold off all the associated parts and they are coming back out.

Posted By: larry4406

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by lahatte

Oh, and I'm doing one for myself... http://www.claylahatte.com

Awakening an old post

Clay did you ever finish this?

Posted By: A12

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by chargervert

Who would want to do a thing like that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/whistling.gif" alt="" />

Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 07:51 PM

It can be done, but there are numerous e body convertible only parts that are worth damn near their weight iin gold. If he has a completely rotted donor to scavenge from it might be feasible. Trying to piece the stuff together one part at a time would be nuts.

Posted By: Mr T2U

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by mgoblue9798

with enough time and $$$ almost anything can be done.
if you have a rusty donor body the job is not that difficult. there will be a lot of careful cutting and welding involved doing this job.
i have helped do this on a 70 challenger convert about 30 years ago, doing this was actually easier than welding in new panels for rust repairs.

here are the big differences between the 2 body styles. there are probably a few more that i forgot.

obviously the windshield header panel is different than a HT.
as posted earlier there is a thick brace that runs the entire length of the rocker panel on converts. on a HT this brace is about 1 1/2' long under the rear 1/4 glass. the rear glass guide bolts to this brace.
the inner 1/4 bracing part where the top bolts on is different.
obviously the area under the rear glass is different.
also there is a brace and drip channel that runs the entire width of the body under the above panel to catch water. on rusty cars this is usually rusted out also.
and there is a patch over a cut out area on the front of the inner wheelhouse so the top can fold into the body. on HT cars there is the mating flange joint of the outer and inner wheelhouse meet.
there is also a brace between the wheelhouses on converts that is not present on HT cars. the top pump bolts in under this brace.

as posted earlier. unless you have a rusty convert donor car i wouldn't even consider attempting this job, and i am a I-Car certified autobody / frame/ painter with over 30 years experience. i have helped restore at least 100 E-Body cars over the years.

Posted By: 57Fury440

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 10:22 PM

The original post is eleven years old!

Posted By: A12

Re: Making a car into a convertible, is it possible? - 04/10/22 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by 57Fury440

The original post is eleven years old!

We know from this:

Quote

Awakening an old post

Clay did you ever finish this?